Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Adolescent Gambling and Problem Gambling: Prevalence, Current Issues, and Concerns

  • Gambling (J Derevensky, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Addiction Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

The prevalence of adolescent gambling and problem gambling and a number of emerging issues impacting adolescent problem gambling are explored.

Recent Findings

International studies of youth suggest that in spite of prohibitions, underage individuals are engaged in a wide array of gambling activities, with between 4 and 8 % experiencing significant gambling-related problems. Youth gambling preferences are often dependent upon their availability, accessibility, and social acceptability. Emerging trends and concerns are focused upon online gambling, simulated forms of gambling, and the promotion of gambling through social media.

Summary

While adolescent problem gamblers are not a homogeneous group, there is clear evidence that multiple factors play an important role in the prevalence, age of onset, and types of gambling in which youth participate. Technological advances through the increased accessibility of online and digital technologies present new gambling opportunities for youth.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

  1. Shaffer HJ, Hall MN, Vander BJ. Estimating the prevalence of disordered gambling behavior in the United States and Canada: a research synthesis. Am J Public Health. 1999;89(9):1369–76.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  2. Volberg RA, Gupta R, Griffiths MD, Ólason DT, Delfabbro P. An international perspective on youth gambling prevalence studies. Int J Adolesc Med Health. 2010;22(1):3–38. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the adolescent gambling literature up until 2010. It includes separate summaries of findings from different parts of the world as well as conclusions, methodological commentary and suggestions for future research.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Lambos C, Delfabbro PH, Pulgies S. Adolescent gambling in South Australia. Report prepared on behalf of the Department for Education and Children’s Services for the Independent Gambling Authority of South Australia. 2007.

  4. Räsänen T, Lintonen T, Konu A. Gambling and problem behavior among 14- to 16-year-old boys and girls in Finland. J Gamb Issues. 2015;31:1–22. doi:10.4309/jgi.2015.31.1. This study represents one of the largest ever adolescent gambling surveys to include gambling measures. In this study, 101,167 children in Grade 8 and 9 were sampled from a large School Health Promotion Study in Finland.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Cook S, Turner NE, Ballon B, Paglia-Boak A, Murray R, Adlaf EM, et al. Problem gambling among Ontario students: associations with substance abuse, mental health problems, suicide attempts, and delinquent behaviours. J Gambl Stud. 2015;31(4):1121–34. doi:10.1007/s10899-014-9483-0. This study is one of the largest Canadian studies published in recent years and provided opportunities to examine the relationship between adolescent gambling and other at-risk behaviours and well-being measures.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Forrest D, McHale IG. Gambling and problem gambling among young adolescents in Great Britain. J Gambl Stud. 2012;28(4):607–22. doi:10.1007/s10899-011-9277-6. This paper describes one of the largest British surveys of adolescent gambling. It involves 8,958 students aged 11–15 years of age drawn from 201 randomly selected schools and uses validated measures such as the DSM-IV-MR-J and specifically examines whether young people had spent money on gambling in the previous 7 days.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Hanss D, Mentzoni RA, Blaszczynski A, Molde H, Torsheim T, Pallesen S. Prevalence and correlates of problem gambling in a representative sample of Norwegian 17-Year-Olds. J Gambl Stud. 2015;31(3):659–78. doi:10.1007/s10899-014-9455-4. This study involved 2059 17-year olds identified randomly via a national registry search. This study highlights the diversity of methodologies in adolescent research in that this study uses the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) and asks about gambling in the previous month.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Fröberg F, Hallqvist J, Tengström A. Psychosocial health and gambling problems among men and women aged 16–24 years in the Swedish National Public Health Survey. Eur J Pub Health. 2013;23(3):427–33. doi:10.1093/eurpub/cks129. This study involved 2,223 school students surveyed in class from grade 6 to 10 and assessed problem gambling using the SOGS-RA and participation rates among Swedish youth.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Raisamo S, Halme J, Murto A, Lintonen T. Gambling-related harms among adolescents: a population-based study. J Gambl Stud. 2013;29(1):151–9. doi:10.1007/s10899-012-9298-9. This paper describes the findings of a national Finnish study (n = 4566) of 12–18 year olds from the Adolescent Health and Lifestyle Survey. The study examines gambling in the last 6 months and examines gambling-related harm.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. St-Pierre RA, Derevensky JL, Temcheff CE, Gupta R. Adolescent gambling and problem gambling: examination of an extended Theory of Planned Behaviour. Int Gambl Stud. 2015;15(3):506–25. doi:10.1080/14459795.2015.1079640.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Stinchfield R. Gambling among Minnesota public school students from 1992 to 2007: declines in youth gambling. Psychol Addict Behav. 2011;25(1):108–17. doi:10.1037/a0021266. The Minnesota student survey has been conducted from 1992 to 2007 and has included a number of gambling-related questions and represents one of the few published studies showing trends in adolescent participation over two decades.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Abbott M. Links between gambling availability, participation and harm: a 28-year New Zealand case-study and relevant findings from Sweden and Victoria. Paper presented at the National Association for Gambling Studies Conference, Adelaide; 2015.

  13. Floros G, Paradisioti A, Hadjimarcou M, Mappouras DG, Karkanioti O, Siomos K. Adolescent online gambling in Cyprus: associated school performance and psychopathology. J Gambl Stud. 2015;31(2):367–84. doi:10.1007/s10899-013-9424-3.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Lupu V, Todirita IR. Updates of the prevalence of problem gambling in Romanian teenagers. J Gambl Stud. 2013;29(1):29–36. doi:10.1007/s10899-012-9296-y.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Spritzer DT, Rohde LA, Benzano DB, Laranjeira RR, Pinsky I, Zaleski M, et al. Prevalence and correlates of gambling problems among a nationally representative sample of Brazilian adolescents. J Gambl Stud. 2011;27(4):649–61. doi:10.1007/s10899-010-9236-7. The paper describes the results of national Brazilian health survey that included 485 adolescents aged 14–17 years who described their involvement in gambling. The study used the DSM-IV-MR-J as its principal measure of pathological gambling.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Martins SS, Lee GP, Kim JH, Letourneau EJ, Storr CL. Gambling and sexual behaviors in African-American adolescents. Addict Behav. 2014;39(5):854–60. doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2014.02.002. This is one of the few studies which has examined the prevalence of adolescent gambling in minority populations.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  17. Carbonneau R, Vitaro F, Brendgen M, Tremblay RE. Variety of gambling activities from adolescence to age 30 and association with gambling problems: a 15‐year longitudinal study of a general population sample. Addiction. 2015;110(12):1985–93. doi:10.1111/add.13083. This longitudinal analysis identified different gambling trajectories, including a high trajectory of young people (8%) who gambled on more activities at age 15 and who were found to be more likely to gamble more widely at age 30 and to experience problems.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Delfabbro P, King D, Griffiths MD. From adolescent to adult gambling: an analysis of longitudinal gambling patterns in South Australia. J Gambl Stud. 2014;30(3):547–63. doi:10.1007/s10899-013-9384-7. This study is one of the few Australian studies to track adolescent gambling patterns from adolescence into adulthood. The paper examines the stability of gambling behaviours and the extent to which age 15 behaviour predicts subsequent behaviour.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Jessor R. New perspectives on adolescent risk behavior. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press; 1998.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  20. Derevensky JL, Gilbeau L. Adolescent gambling: twenty-five years of research. Can J Addict. 2015;6(2):4–12.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Gupta R, Derevensky J. Defining and assessing binge gambling. JL Derevensky, DT Shek & J Merrick (Eds.), Youth Gambling: The Hidden Addiction. Berlin: De Gruyter; 2011:79–97.

  22. Gupta R, Nower L, Derevensky JL, Blaszczynski A, Faregh N, Temcheff C. Problem gambling in adolescents: an examination of the Pathways Model. J Gambl Stud. 2013;29(3):575–88.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Hardoon K, Derevensky J, Gupta R. Empirical vs. perceived measures of gambling severity: why adolescents don’t present themselves for treatment. Addict Behav. 2003;28:933–46.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission (AADAC). Gambling among Alberta youth: The Alberta youth experience Survey 2005; 2007. http://www.aadac.com/documents/TAYES05_gambling_among_alberta_youth.pdf

  25. Derevensky JL, Gupta R. Internet gambling amongst adolescents: a growing concern. IJMA. 2007;5(2):93–101.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Wood RT, Williams RJ. Internet gambling: prevalence, patterns, problems, and policy options. Final report prepared for the Ontario problem gambling research centre, Guelph, Ontario, Canada. 2009. Findings from a large Canadian and international survey, including a total of more than 20,000 respondents, are presented. The survey involved measurement of Internet and land-based gambling activities.

  27. Gainsbury S, King D, Delfabbro P, Hing N, Russell A, Blaszczynski A, Derevensky J. The use of social media in gambling. Gambling Research Australia. 2015. This report summarizes a major Australian government-funded project on the various intersections of gambling and social media. One of its objectives was to identify the exposure and use of social media and gambling products. It features a large survey of adolescent gambling activities in social media and land-based activities.

  28. King, D. L. & Delfabbro, P. H. [unpublished]). Parental supervision of adolescents’ commercial and simulated gambling activities. Manuscript under review.

  29. King DL, Delfabbro PH, Kaptsis D, Zwaans T. Adolescent simulated gambling via digital and social media: an emerging problem. Comput Hum Behav. 2014;31:305–13. This paper summarises the findings from a survey of secondary school students in South Australia that examined both involvement in gambling for money as well as simulated gambling activities.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Allen K, Madden J, Brooks K, Najman J. The Virtual Jackpot! The socio-cultural and environmental context of youth gambling. Report prepared for the Queensland Treasury; 2008. Retrieved online (20/2/2012) from: http://www.olgr.qld.gov.au/resources/responsibleGamblingDocuments/TheVirtualJackpot-TheSocioCulturalContextofYouthGamblingPhase1.pdf

  31. King DL, Delfabbro PH. Early exposure to digital simulated gambling: a review and conceptual model. Comput Hum Behav. 2016;55:198–206. This paper presents a conceptual model for the risks and protective factors associated with exposure simulated gambling activities. Clear guidelines for future research agendas are described, including discussion of mechanisms that might influence gambling behavior.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. SuperData Research. Social casinos: the infographic. 2013. Retrieved from http://www.superdataresearch.com/blog/social-casino-the-infographic/.

  33. Ipsos MORI. British survey of children, the national lottery and gambling 2008–09: report of a quantitative survey. London: National Lottery Commission; 2009.

    Google Scholar 

  34. Griffiths MD, Wood RT. Adolescent Internet gambling: preliminary results of a national survey. Educ Health. 2007;25(2):23–7.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Griffiths MD. Gaming convergence: further legal issues and psychosocial impact. Gaming Law Rev Econ. 2011;15(7–8):461–4.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. International Social Games Association. A snapshot of youth in the digital playground: Digsogames and Digsinos. 2014. Retrieved from: https://www.dropbox.com/s/f0w567da9v5q26t/ISGA%20Research%20%20A%20Snapshot%20of%20Youth%20in%20the%20Digital%20Playground.pdf?dl=0

  37. Owens MD. If it isn’t gambling, how far should gaming regulation Go? Quasi-gambling, “Freemium”, and State Control. Gaming Law Rev Econ. 2013;17(7):506–10.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Gainsbury S, Russell A, Hing N. An investigation of social casino gaming among land-based and Internet gamblers: a comparison of socio-demographic characteristics, gambling and co-morbidities. Comput Hum Behav. 2014;33:126–35.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Gupta R, Derevensky JL, Wohl M. A qualitative examination of online gambling culture among college students: factors influencing participation, maintenance and cessation. Las Vegas: International Conference on Gambling and Risk Taking; 2013.

    Google Scholar 

  40. Kim HS, Wohl MJ, Salmon MM, Gupta R, Derevensky J. Do social casino gamers migrate to online gambling? An assessment of migration rate and potential predictors. J Gambl Stud. 2015;31(4):1819–31.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Parke A, Harris A, Parke J, Rigbye J, Blaszczynski A. Responsible marketing and advertising in gambling: a critical review. J Gambl Bus Econ. 2015;8(3):21–35.

    Google Scholar 

  42. Gainsbury S, Hing N, Delfabbro PH, King DL. A taxonomy of gambling and casino games via social media and online technologies. Int Gambl Stud. 2014;14(2):196–213. This paper presents a useful summary of the taxonomic features of online gambling and gambling-like activities. There is a practice emphasis on features and boundaries between types of activities.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. King DL, Gainsbury SM, Delfabbro PH, Hing N, Abarbanel B. Distinguishing between gaming and gambling activities in addiction research. J Behav Addict. 2015;4(4):215–20.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  44. Humphreys A, Latour KA. Framing the game: assessing the impact of cultural representations on consumer perceptions of legitimacy. J Consum Res. 2013;40(4):773–95.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. Derevensky JL, Gainsbury SM. Social casino gaming and adolescents: should we be concerned and is regulation in sight? Int J Law Psychiat. 2015.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Psychology, University of Adelaide, Nth. Tce., Adelaide, Australia

    Paul Delfabbro & Daniel L. King

  2. International Centre for Youth Gambling Problems and High Risk Behaviors, Montréal, QC, Canada

    Jeffrey L. Derevensky

Authors
  1. Paul Delfabbro
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Daniel L. King
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jeffrey L. Derevensky
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jeffrey L. Derevensky.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of Interest

Paul Delfabbro, Daniel King, and Jeffrey Derevensky declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

Additional information

This article is part of the Topical Collection on Gambling

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Delfabbro, P., King, D.L. & Derevensky, J.L. Adolescent Gambling and Problem Gambling: Prevalence, Current Issues, and Concerns. Curr Addict Rep 3, 268–274 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40429-016-0105-z

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40429-016-0105-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation